A Utah judge has ruled that the local county attorney's office will continue to prosecute the case against alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson.
Judge Tony Graf on Tuesday rejected the defense's motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney's office from the high-profile case.
Robinson's legal team had pointed out that Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander's daughter was in the audience when Kirk was shot and killed.
The judge, however, ruled that Grunander’s loyalty to his daughter doesn't pose a "significant risk" in his work or interfere with Robinson’s rights.
"Prosecutors need not be immune to the emotional response of others to prosecute a case,” Graf said in his ruling.
The defense had also argued that prosecutors were quick to announce their intent to seek the death penalty in the case, suggesting they had “strong emotional reactions” that validated disqualification of the entire team.
Kirk, the co-founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was struck during an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
Grunander's daughter testified in court that she was looking toward the crowd and didn't actually see the assassination. She also didn't realize he was shot and killed until after she ran away, according to her testimony.